It's Nov. 1 and I'm embarking on a new project: National Novel Writing Month (AKA NaNoWriMo). This means I'm going to try to write the first draft of a manuscript in one month. Yikes! Scary! But hopefully it will be just the kick in the pants I need to write more. I look back on the time when I had time to write on this blog or my Myspace blog every day, and it blows my mind all the memories and stories I was getting down on "paper." The habit of writing really is a huge part of the process, and I'm crossing my fingers it comes back to me like riding a bike (though you may know the story of how I didn't learn to ride 'til I was 19, so that old adage doesn't quite work here).
ANYWAY. Wish me luck! I'm hoping to post every day to keep track of my word count. 50,000 in a month is the NaNoWriMo goal. Here goes nothin' - or hopefully, somethin'!
LOVE & STORIES,
Erin
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Silver Lining zine: You're Looking at Country, pt. 2
We rejoin Silver Lining contributing writer Jennifer Levin in her love of country music. You can catch pt. 1 in the previous post. - Erin
Who says who gets to listen to what? Well…though we were not religious, my parents called the principal in protest when I was made to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” in elementary school, and when I was 10, on a family camping trip through Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, they warned me daily not to tell anyone we were Jewish. In retrospect, this level of “Jewish damage” is out of proportion to the sporadic and relatively tame anti-Semitism I actually encountered growing up, but…at a company Christmas party three years ago, jealous of the two-stepping couples on the dance floor, I asked a co-worker to teach me. “Don’t be silly,” she laughed, gulping water and grabbing her girlfriend by the hand, “Jews don’t have to know how to two-step.”
I was appalled, yet felt the need to defend myself to her in my head, angrily listing the CDs currently in rotation in my car: Jimmie Rodgers, Gillian Welch, Iris DeMent, the Carter Family, Allison Krauss and Union Station — who did she think she was? I had nothing to prove. And still…
Last August, I put off going to the Santa Fe Bluegrass Festival for the first two-and-a-half days, citing housework and other obligations. But on Sunday evening William and I finally headed for the rodeo grounds, where I knew that anyone with any street cred would recognize me as an interloper.
“Everyone’s so old-timey,” I said, and though no one had even looked at me, “I feel Jewish.”
“Jewish is like the oldest of the old-timey,” said William.
We settled into the main performance tent just in time to hear the band play Del McCoury’s “I Feel the Blues Moving In,” one of my all-time favorite songs. Knowing the lyrics to the first song I heard eased my anxiety. I let the music take over and forgot to feel like an outsider. The only thing required of me was an unending tolerance for the music. Turns out, I really can listen to it forever.
The Bluegrass Festival was a turning point for me, and we’ll be going for all three days this year. I can no longer deny who I am. However, I still need two-stepping lessons and I’d also like to learn to clog and yodel. In return, I can teach you how to make potato latkes and pineapple noodle kugel.
Who says who gets to listen to what? Well…though we were not religious, my parents called the principal in protest when I was made to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” in elementary school, and when I was 10, on a family camping trip through Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, they warned me daily not to tell anyone we were Jewish. In retrospect, this level of “Jewish damage” is out of proportion to the sporadic and relatively tame anti-Semitism I actually encountered growing up, but…at a company Christmas party three years ago, jealous of the two-stepping couples on the dance floor, I asked a co-worker to teach me. “Don’t be silly,” she laughed, gulping water and grabbing her girlfriend by the hand, “Jews don’t have to know how to two-step.”
I was appalled, yet felt the need to defend myself to her in my head, angrily listing the CDs currently in rotation in my car: Jimmie Rodgers, Gillian Welch, Iris DeMent, the Carter Family, Allison Krauss and Union Station — who did she think she was? I had nothing to prove. And still…
Last August, I put off going to the Santa Fe Bluegrass Festival for the first two-and-a-half days, citing housework and other obligations. But on Sunday evening William and I finally headed for the rodeo grounds, where I knew that anyone with any street cred would recognize me as an interloper.
“Everyone’s so old-timey,” I said, and though no one had even looked at me, “I feel Jewish.”
“Jewish is like the oldest of the old-timey,” said William.
We settled into the main performance tent just in time to hear the band play Del McCoury’s “I Feel the Blues Moving In,” one of my all-time favorite songs. Knowing the lyrics to the first song I heard eased my anxiety. I let the music take over and forgot to feel like an outsider. The only thing required of me was an unending tolerance for the music. Turns out, I really can listen to it forever.
The Bluegrass Festival was a turning point for me, and we’ll be going for all three days this year. I can no longer deny who I am. However, I still need two-stepping lessons and I’d also like to learn to clog and yodel. In return, I can teach you how to make potato latkes and pineapple noodle kugel.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Silver Lining zine: You're Looking at Country by Jennifer Levin
Today's Silver Lining contributor, the lovely Jennifer Levin, comes to us from Santa Fe, NM, by way of Chicago, where she once struggled with being Jewish, Midwestern, AND a fan of Country & Western music all at once. Read on! - Erin
When I was nine I wanted to be Tom Sawyer. I wore overalls, went barefoot, and to the dismay of my family and classmates, attempted to learn the harmonica. That I was a girl living in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago in 1984 didn’t dampen my desire to exist in the 1840s. Eventually, however, I grew breasts and could no longer convince myself of the fantasy.
In high school, though I shaved off most of my hair and wore combat boots, I preferred Pasty Cline to Siouxsie Sioux. In college, my affinity for the Waterboys inspired my roommate to forbid me from choosing the music anymore, because the Waterboys picking made her feel “too white.” And when I grew up and got a job and started listening to bluegrass in my office, co-workers leaned in to ask how someone like me had ever been exposed to country music.
“Someone like me” means “Jew from Chicago.” And though I would classify what I listen to as many things — bluegrass, high lonesome, rockabilly, twang, Western swing, classic country, alt-country — it is, indeed, country.
This country-love began about six years ago when my boyfriend William came home with the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou and changed my life. Everything about this “old-timey” music was right for me — I told William I could listen to “I’ll Fly Away” forever. And yet, the curiosity my new musical pursuits provoked in others gave me pause. Who was I to sing along with a church song about going to heaven?
Was I being ridiculous?
(Was she? Was Jennifer being ridiculous? More tomorrow, when "You're Looking at Country" concludes. Can't wait! - Erin)
When I was nine I wanted to be Tom Sawyer. I wore overalls, went barefoot, and to the dismay of my family and classmates, attempted to learn the harmonica. That I was a girl living in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago in 1984 didn’t dampen my desire to exist in the 1840s. Eventually, however, I grew breasts and could no longer convince myself of the fantasy.
In high school, though I shaved off most of my hair and wore combat boots, I preferred Pasty Cline to Siouxsie Sioux. In college, my affinity for the Waterboys inspired my roommate to forbid me from choosing the music anymore, because the Waterboys picking made her feel “too white.” And when I grew up and got a job and started listening to bluegrass in my office, co-workers leaned in to ask how someone like me had ever been exposed to country music.
“Someone like me” means “Jew from Chicago.” And though I would classify what I listen to as many things — bluegrass, high lonesome, rockabilly, twang, Western swing, classic country, alt-country — it is, indeed, country.
This country-love began about six years ago when my boyfriend William came home with the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou and changed my life. Everything about this “old-timey” music was right for me — I told William I could listen to “I’ll Fly Away” forever. And yet, the curiosity my new musical pursuits provoked in others gave me pause. Who was I to sing along with a church song about going to heaven?
Was I being ridiculous?
(Was she? Was Jennifer being ridiculous? More tomorrow, when "You're Looking at Country" concludes. Can't wait! - Erin)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Trade in Celebrity Obsession for Community Service
A friend in Oklahoma's blog this morning really inspired me. My heart aches right now over all the things it made me think about. Thankfully, I'm an optimist and I truly believe it's not too late to save our society from becoming a cesspool. But we all need to do our part to turn this freaking ship around. A link to his blog plus my response and call to action are now on the Open Books blog.
L&G,
e
P.S. -- After you read the blogs, I hope those in Chicago will suck it up and sign up to help Open Books with our Big Move. We can't do the bulk of our work until we get our books moved and sorted. They are used in critical community service programs and are sold to pay for all the literacy work we do. We desperately need people for the early Public Storage shifts, 7 - 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2-3. Just this once, get up early on a weekend. Then you can skip the gym and eat all your want at Super Bowl parties as a reward.
L&G,
e
P.S. -- After you read the blogs, I hope those in Chicago will suck it up and sign up to help Open Books with our Big Move. We can't do the bulk of our work until we get our books moved and sorted. They are used in critical community service programs and are sold to pay for all the literacy work we do. We desperately need people for the early Public Storage shifts, 7 - 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2-3. Just this once, get up early on a weekend. Then you can skip the gym and eat all your want at Super Bowl parties as a reward.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Silver Lining zine: Favorite Questions #3
Three favorite questions for . . .
Jim Hall, Chicago, IL, 28
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
The Brother's Karamazov because it's impossible to fee sorry for yourself when faced with a Dostoevsky character.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
June of '44. Four Great Points. It proved to me that the music I wanted to listen to was out there, and that if I listened well enough, I could find it, and maybe make it myself.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
I'm finding out just how productive I can be without constant internet access.
Jim Hall, Chicago, IL, 28
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
The Brother's Karamazov because it's impossible to fee sorry for yourself when faced with a Dostoevsky character.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
June of '44. Four Great Points. It proved to me that the music I wanted to listen to was out there, and that if I listened well enough, I could find it, and maybe make it myself.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
I'm finding out just how productive I can be without constant internet access.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Silver Lining zine: Favorite Questions #2
Three favorite questions for . . .
Jennifer Levin, Santa Fe, NM, 33
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
I re-read The World According to Garp (John Irving) when I was very unhappy with my choice of college during freshman year. It made me realize that I was studying the wrong thing in the wrong place and so I moved to Santa Fe to be a writer.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
Furnace Room Lullabye by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends. I didn't realize anyone sang that way--belting, uncatagorizable--and the song "Guided by Wire" made me understand my own past in a way I never had before.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
I'm a little burnt out on my job--but I have 65 hours of vacation to use up in the next six weeks, so I'm taking all of next week off for an impromptu "writing residency in my bedroom." Only two days to go!
Jennifer Levin, Santa Fe, NM, 33
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
I re-read The World According to Garp (John Irving) when I was very unhappy with my choice of college during freshman year. It made me realize that I was studying the wrong thing in the wrong place and so I moved to Santa Fe to be a writer.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
Furnace Room Lullabye by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends. I didn't realize anyone sang that way--belting, uncatagorizable--and the song "Guided by Wire" made me understand my own past in a way I never had before.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
I'm a little burnt out on my job--but I have 65 hours of vacation to use up in the next six weeks, so I'm taking all of next week off for an impromptu "writing residency in my bedroom." Only two days to go!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Silver Lining zine: Favorite Questions #1
Three favorite questions for . . .
Kristen Brown, Austin, TX, 32
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
Books don't normally affect me very much, and I don't really have favorites. (I know, I must be a Communist or an alien or something.) BUT, The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker, totally rocked my world. I think about that book almost every day. It taught me that I am not the only person who thinks in footnotes (!!) and who notices the minutiae of life. And it reminds me how it is BEST to be like that, because then you never take any of life for granted.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
I'd have to say that Disintegration, by The Cure, changed my life more than any other album because it was THAT album that made me understand the emotional power of music and fall in love with music in general. AND, Robert Smith is hot.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
Recently I realized that instead of complaining and whining every time I had to sit in the Credit Union drive-though for 35 minutes (!!) every two weeks on payday, I would use that time to call my grandfather, or balance my checkbook, or make to-do lists, or do any number of other things I complain about never sitting still long enough to do!!
Kristen Brown, Austin, TX, 32
1. What's one BOOK that has made your life better?
Books don't normally affect me very much, and I don't really have favorites. (I know, I must be a Communist or an alien or something.) BUT, The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker, totally rocked my world. I think about that book almost every day. It taught me that I am not the only person who thinks in footnotes (!!) and who notices the minutiae of life. And it reminds me how it is BEST to be like that, because then you never take any of life for granted.
2. What's one ALBUM that has made your life better?
I'd have to say that Disintegration, by The Cure, changed my life more than any other album because it was THAT album that made me understand the emotional power of music and fall in love with music in general. AND, Robert Smith is hot.
3. What's one way you can take lemons and make lemonade?
Recently I realized that instead of complaining and whining every time I had to sit in the Credit Union drive-though for 35 minutes (!!) every two weeks on payday, I would use that time to call my grandfather, or balance my checkbook, or make to-do lists, or do any number of other things I complain about never sitting still long enough to do!!
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